Few women know that men also have discharge. As in women, in men they occur normally and are odorless. Only in women is it called "leucorrhoea" and they appear from the vagina, while men are derived from the urethra. Of course, any pathological discharge indicates ill health and requires a visit to a doctor.
Physiological discharge
The health of a man is evidenced by the physiological discharge from the exit of the urethra, which is observed in the following cases:
Libidotic or physiological urethrorrea
This condition is observed when transparent discharge appears during sexual arousal or in the morning, immediately after sleep. Their number in different males varies and is directly related to the severity of sexual arousal. But in any case, it is important to remember that such a discharge, when stimulated, contains a small amount of sperm, so if they enter the partner's genitals, she is at risk of becoming pregnant. The function of the secretions described is to ensure the passage of sperm through a woman's urethra and vagina, where there is an acidic environment that is destructive to the "gum", and to obtain them in a form applicable to the uterine cavity and tubes. for egg fertilization.
Impaired prostate
During an increase in intra-abdominal pressure (when straining), a transparent odorless discharge with possible gray-white streaks may appear on the head of the penis. Such a discharge is viscous and consists of a mixture of prostate secretions and seminal vesicles. Such a discharge may appear at the end of urination, in which case they speak of a vocal prostatorea. In exceptional cases, such a discharge appears with a strong cough. They are not considered an organic pathology, but show only a violation of the autonomic regulation of the functioning of the genitals.
Smegma
Smegma (preputial lubrication) is a secretion consisting of secretions from the sebaceous glands of the head of the penis and foreskin. Normally, if a man observes the rules of personal hygiene, such a discharge does not create discomfort, as it is mechanically washed with water. But if hygiene is neglected, smegma accumulates and microorganisms multiply in it, which serves as a source of an unpleasant odor.
Isolation of sperm
Sperm, which contains a large number of sperm, is normally secreted during ejaculation (ejaculation) at the end of sexual intercourse or spontaneously, during sleep (wet dreams). Pollution occurs in adolescent boys and occurs either several times a month or 1 to 3 times a week (hormonal changes).
In some cases, spermatorrhea, i. e. the discharge of sperm from the urethra without sexual intercourse and orgasm, indicates a pathology when the tone of the vas deferens muscle layer is disturbed in the presence of chronic inflammation or brain disease.
Pathological discharge
All other secretions that go beyond physiological are pathology and indicate mainly inflammation of the urethra or urethritis. The causes of urethritis in men are different, they can be infectious and non-infectious.
Infectious causes are divided into specific and non-specific.
- Specific etiological factors include sexually transmitted diseases such as trichomoniasis.
- Non-specific infectious urethritis is caused by opportunistic bacteria, viruses and fungi:
- chlamydial urethritis;
- ureaplasma and mycoplasma urethritis;
- candidal urethritis or urogenital candidiasis in men;
- herpetic urethritis and others (Escherichia coli, streptococci, staphylococci).
Non-infectious factors of inflammation include:
- allergic reactions
- mechanical damage to the urethral mucosa
- irritation of the urethra with chemicals
- trauma, narrowing of the urethra.
Male discharge may vary in transparency and color. These parameters are influenced by the intensity of the inflammatory process, its phase and the etiological factor. The secretions are formed by fluid, mucus and various cells.
- Cloudy - if there are a large number of cells, then the discharge has a turbid color.
- Gray or thick - with a predominance of epithelial cells in the secretions, they become gray and thick.
- Yellow, green or yellow -green - when a large number of leukocytes are contained in secretions, they become yellow and even green, they are also called purulent secretions.
It should be noted that with the same pathology, the nature of the discharge changes over time.
White download
White discharge in men is due to several reasons. First of all, candidiasis should be ruled out. With this disease, the following symptoms are observed:
- the head of the penis carries an unpleasant odor of sourdough bread or yeast;
- the head of the penis is covered with a white coating;
- itching, burning and even pain in the penis and perineal region is observed;
- discharge occurs when urinating;
- there are reddish spots (irritation, inflammation) on the head and inner surface of the foreskin;
- pain occurs during coitus, discomfort is felt in the head and forehead;
- white discharge is observed, not only during urination;
- partner complains of itching and burning, pain during intercourse, has a cheese discharge.
In addition to urogenital candidiasis, white discharge can be caused by chlamydia and / or ureaplasmosis and mycoplasmosis, and also speak of inflammation of the prostate gland, which is characterized by:
- Difficulty and intermittent urination
- a burning sensation in the perineum and urethra;
- discomfort during bowel movements;
- frequent desire to urinate;
- sexual disorders (decreased libido and erection, rapid ejaculation, vague orgasm).
It is important for men to remember that neglected prostatitis can lead not only to persistent erectile dysfunction but also to infertility.
Transparent choices
- Chlamydia, ureaplasmosis - discharge of transparent mucosa is possible with chlamydial or ureaplasmic urethra in the chronic stage of the disease. With a deterioration of the process, the number of leukocytes in the secretions increases, and they acquire a green or yellow color.
- Trichomoniasis, gonorrhea - also transparent, abundant mucus discharges, which are observed during the day, are possible in the initial stage of infection with Trichomonas or gonococci. In the case of chlamydia (ureaplasmosis), subjective sensations are often absent (pain, itching, burning), and transparent discharge appears after prolonged abstinence from urination.
Yellow discharge
Purulent discharge, which includes the desquamated epithelium of the urethra, a considerable number of leukocytes, and urethral mucus, are yellow or green. Yellow or mixed discharge with greenery is a characteristic sign of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Gonorrhea - the discharge is thick and has an unpleasant putrid odor, is noticed during the day and is accompanied by pain when urinating. A man should first think about a gonorrhea infection if he has a pair of classic symptoms: discharge and itching.
- Trichomoniasis - also with yellow discharge, trichomoniasis is not ruled out, although it is often asymptomatic. With severe symptoms of Trichomonas infection, in addition to pus-like discharge, a man is concerned about burning and stinging while urinating, frequent and irresistible urges to urinate, a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen, and discomfort inperineum.
Discharge with a wind
Violation of hygiene
An unpleasant odor of the perineum and penis, in particular, can be noticed if the conditions of intimate hygiene are not observed:
- Smegma is an excellent breeding ground for microorganisms, which, multiplying and dying, create an unpleasant odor if you do not regularly wash the external genitalia thoroughly.
- Moreover, smegma itself can have an unpleasant odor in case of metabolic disorders (for example, diabetes mellitus in men). At the same time, the release of smegma is so intense that it is absorbed through the underwear.
Infections
Air discharge is most often observed with an infectious lesion of the urethra. First of all, gonorrheal urethritis should be ruled out - the thick, yellow or green discharge that is observed throughout the day.
Sour discharge is a pathognomonic symptom of urogenital candidiasis. Infection with fungi of the genus Candida provokes the appearance of a white cheese or milky discharge.
A foul odor of secretions is also possible, which is natural in gardnerella, which is more characteristic of women (called bacterial vaginosis), and in men, the development of this disease is quite meaningless. Gardnerella belongs to the conditionally pathogenic microorganisms and begins to multiply actively only under certain conditions:
- weakening of immunity;
- accompanying inflammatory processes of the genitourinary organs;
- intestinal dysbiosis;
- use of condoms with spermicides;
- long-term treatment with antibiotics or immunosuppressants (cytostatics, corticosteroids);
- tight drawers made of synthetic fabrics;
- debauched sex life.
Also, discharge with an unpleasant odor can be with diseases such as:
- balanitis (inflammation of the head of the penis)
- balanoposthitis (inflammation of the inner surface of the foreskin).
But in addition to discharge (not from the urethra, but smegma), these diseases are associated with hyperemia and itching, penile pain, and ulcers and wrinkles are found on the head.
Bloody discharge
Infections
Bloody discharge or discharge with bloody streaks is often observed with an infectious lesion of the urethra. A blood mixture is characteristic of gonorrhea, trichomonas or candidal urethritis. Moreover, the amount of blood is directly related to the intensity of inflammation.
Often, blood is observed in chronic urethritis (the urethral mucosa is released and responds with bleeding in contact with the slightest irritation, including the passage of urine through the duct).
Medical manipulations
Another reason for this is trauma to the urethra during medical procedures. In the event of rough buccal incision, catheter insertion and removal, cystoscopy, or staining, staining may occur immediately. They differ in that the blood is bright red, there is no clotting and the bleeding itself stops very quickly.
Passing stones, sand
Among other things, bloody discharge can be noticed when small stones or sand (from the kidneys or bladder) pass through the urethra. The hard surface of the microliths damages the mucosa and vascular walls, causing bleeding. In this case, the blood is most visible when urinating, which is accompanied by pain.
Glomerulonephritis
Gross hematuria (blood in the urine, visible during urination) is also possible in the presence of glomerulonephritis. In this case, there is a triad of symptoms: gross hematuria, edema, increased blood pressure.
Malignant tumors
One of the signs of malignant tumors of the genitourinary system (cancer of the prostate gland, penis, testicles and others) is the appearance of blood in a man. In this case, the blood will be brown or dark and clots may appear.
Isolation of blood with semen
We should not forget about a symptom such as bleeding with semen (hematospermia). Distinguish between false and true hematospermia. When it is false, blood mixes with sperm as it passes through the urethra. And with real blood it enters the ejaculation even before it passes through the urethra. Hematospermia is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- pain during ejaculation;
- urinary disorders;
- pain and / or swelling in the genitals (testicles and scrotum);
- discomfort and pain in the lower back;
- increased body temperature.
One of the causes of hematospermia is:
- overly active sex life or vice versa,
- prolonged sexual abstinence, while during sexual intercourse there is a rupture of vascular walls in the tissues of the genital organs
- previous surgery or biopsy may also cause blood to appear in the semen
- hematospermia occurs in benign and malignant neoplasms of the genitourinary organs
- in the presence of stones in the testicles and vas deferens
- with varicose veins of the pelvic organs.